On December 19, 1989, Modesitt got into a car accident in Lawrenceville, Georgia, which killed Atlanta Falcons player Brad Beckman, who was the passenger in the car. Modessitt was the driver, and his car bumped into another car. Modesitt got out of the vehicle to survey the damage, and a tractor trailer rig hit his car, with Beckman still inside, and him.[10] Beckman was killed instantly, while Modesitt suffered a fractured pelvis, fractured elbow, fractured leg, concussion, and had to have a toe amputated.[1]